Traditional herbal drugs against liver diseases – Experimented in vitro using HepG2 cells for induced steatosis

Salvia fruticosa leaves, Malva sylvestris flowers, Taraxacum officinale aerial parts, Plantago ovata seeds, Tanacetum parthenium aerial parts, and Allium sativum bulbs are documented for traditional use against hepatic disorders and different liver diseases. To evaluate herbal drug material for potential use against liver diseases, at molecular level for the efficacy linked to ethnobotanical documented data.Different herbal extracts were prepared and standardized by HPLC, according to European Pharmacopoeia. Initially 0.25 mg/mL each standardized extract was applied to oleic+palmitic acid induced fatty liver using a HepG2 cell culture model. ALT, AST, GSH, and MDA levels were comparatively analyzed, in addition to cell Nil Red staining. The highest activity for MDA reduction was observed for the A. sativum extract at 48.2% level, followed by 36.4% for M. sylvestris, and S. fruticosa extracts with 27.3% reduction, respectively. Glutathione levels increased to 59.1% when A. sativum extract was applied. M. sylvestris extract increased the glutathione levels in the medium by 49.7%; S. fruticosa extract decreased ALT levels by 53.5% and M. sylvestris extract by 38.5%, whereas the standard resveratrol reduced ALT level by 30.9%, respectively. The AST levels for M. sylvestris extract was 46.5%, compared to resveratrol by 93%. A. sativum, M. sylvestris, and S. fruticosa standard extracts showed relatively good correlation and activity where further in vivo studies should be performed.